Payne, Brigadier General (ret.)

May 01, 1999

PAYNE, Brigadier General (Ret.)

Robert Albert

Brigadier General (Ret.) Robert Albert Payne, 82, formerly of Riverview Terrace, Suffield, a retired Brigadier General Base Commander at the Strategic Air Command at Westover Air Force Base in Chicopee, MA and retired education service specialist with the Department of Education in Hartford, died on Friday (April 30, 1999) at Quabbin Valley Health Care in Athol, MA after a period of declining health. He leaves his wife of 35 years, Virginia C. (Mahan) Payne. They were married in Suffield on Jan. 17, 1964. He also leaves several nieces and nephews. He was born in Wallingford on Aug. 18, 1916 to the late Albert Charles and Minnie (McMonagle) Payne. Educated in Connecticut and Westfield, MA public schools, he was a graduate of Westfield High School. He also received his BS and BA in Personnel Management from AIC in Springfield, MA in June of 1953. He is a World War II Veteran and also a Prisoner of War from Nov. 29, 1943 - May 1, 1945 in Germany. He was a pilot with the B-17 (548th Bomb Squad and the 385th Bomb Group). He received many service campaign medals, including the Prisoner of War Medal and the Purple Heart for wounds received in November 24, 1943 in the European Theatre. He worked for 22 years in Hartford with the Department of Education, retiring in April of 1979. He was a member of many military associations, most notably the Combat Pilot's Association 548th Bomb Squad 385th Bomb Group, attending many reunions, also a member of many amateur radio repeater associations. Military Funeral Services will be on Monday, 10:15 a.m. from the Pillsbury Funeral Home, 96 South Barre Road, Barre, MA, with members of the Patriots Honor Squad from Hanscom Air Force Base. A Liturgy of Christian Burial at 11 a.m. at St. Aloysius Church in Gilbertville, MA. Burial will be private at Hillcrest Park Cemetery in Springfield, MA. Calling hours, Sunday evening, 5-8 p.m. at Pillsbury Funeral Home in Barre, MA. Memorials in lieu of flowers to the charity of the donor's choice.